Gas lift apparatus



T. E. BRYAN Sept. 9, 1941.

GAS LIFT APPARATUS Filed Aug 3, 1939 3 Sheets- Sheet l INVEN TOR Sept. 9, 1941.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1939 F167. FIG. 8.

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m m F Sept. 9, 1941. T. E. BRYAN GAS LIFT APPARATUS Filed Aug. 3, 1939 '5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGIE' FIG. l4.

m VEN TOR Patented Sept. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS LIFT APPARATUS Thomas E. Bryan, Fort Worth, Tcx

Application August 3, 1939, Serial No. 288,191 (01. 103-232) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to gas lift apparatus and has particular reference tomechanism for operating. and controlling the flow of oil wells.

An object of the invention is to provide a A valve unit which may be operated from the earths surface and may be installed and removed without pulling the well tubing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a setting and jarring member whereby the valve unit may be securely seated in operative position and subsequently removed without the necessity of using separate sets of tools for the installation and removal operations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wire line valve which may be removed from its seat in a well tubing without cutting the line, as required when using a fishing tool.

A further object of the invention is to provide ing features of the present invention embodied therein.

Figure 2 is a. vertical sectional view of the valve receiving assembly which is designed for attachment to the tubing of the well and shows the valve unit positioned therein.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of one form of the jar tool attached to the upper end of the stem of the valve unit.

Figure 4 is averticalsectional view of the valve assembly, and showing the form of the in- -vention which has-piston type valve elements.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of a below packer installation. V

Figure 6 is similar to Figure 4, butillustrates a modified form ofvalve elements.

Figure '7 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of a jar tool showing the rod member in elevation.

Figure-8 is similar to Figure '1, but showing the rod removed.

Figure 9 isa vertical sectional view of atype of kick-oil valve which may be installed in the I taining sleeve- 18. Laterally positioned conduits Figure 12 is taken on lines l2-l2 of Figure 6. Figure 13.is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of the wire line actuating mechanism, and Figure 14 is taken on lines "-14 of Figure 13. In the drawings, the numeral I generally designates a well comprised of a casing 2 having a head 3 for hermetically sealing and supporting a string of well tubing 4. At the upper end of the tubing 4 there is mounted a cap 5 having a stufling box 6 in the upper end for slidably receiving a wire line or cable I. Above the head 3 and connected to the tubing 4, there is a dis-' charge pipe 8 which is controlled by' a gate valve 9, and intermediate the said discharge pipe and the cap 5 'there is connected in the tubing 4 another gate valve IQ for closing the said tubing when the cap 5 and wire line I are re moved. 7 v Kick-ofl valves II are positioned at intervals in the tubing 4, and may be. of any conventional construction, but are preferably 01 the double seat type as shown in Figure 9. Each of the double seat valves ll referredto includes a housing l2 integral and within the side of the tubing connecting castings 1.3. A gas inlet is provided in the housing l2 for communicating gas through the valve II and into the tubing 4. valve is well known to the art, and therefore a detailed description of the valve elements is unnecessary in the present disclosure.

,Between the casing 2 and the tubing 4 there is positioned a packer l5 which isnormally below the static level of the oil. Above the packer l5 and below the lowermost kick-01f valve ll there is connected in the tubing 4 a cylindrical housing l6 of relatively large diameter, as particularly shown in Figure 2. concentrically mounted within the housing l6 and spaced from the inner walls thereof, by rigidly attached rods I I, there is positioned a valve receiving and rel9, as particularly shown in Figure 2, are' provided for gas passage between the interior of the sleeve l8 andthe exterior of the housing l6.

At the upper end of the tubing 4 and below the stufling box .5 there is a bracket 20 which tubing above the normal operative position of the valve unit. a p

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view of the wire line-actuating cylinder.

Figure 11 is taken on lines H-ll of Figure 5. 6 ab y engaging the Piston rod 25.

supports a freely rotatablepulley 2 I. The brack et 20 also supports a cylinder 22 as shown in Figure l, which contains a piston 23 which'is connected to the wire line 'I by .means off a threaded coupling 24 attached to the upper end of the piston rod 25, as shown in Figures 1 and 10.

A cap '26 encloses'the upper end of the cylinder 22 and is provided with a stuffing box 21 for slid- This type of Connected to the lowerend of the wire line 1 in the tubing 4 there is a valve unit 28 which is operatively received within the sleeve l8, previously referred to. comprised of a body 28, and upper and lower caps d 38 and 3| connected thereto by upperand lower sleeves 32 and 33.

Rings 34 and cups 35 are mounted on each of these sleeves iorproviding a seal with the ends interior of the valve receiving sleeve l8. Intermediate the ends of the body 29 there is a threadedly attached member 36 which has a'cylindrical bore through its center. There are vertical passages, 36' around the central bore, the same being shown in dotted lines in Figures 4 and 6, and more particularly shown in Figure 12. Lateral openings or inlets 31 are formed in the cylindrical member 36 so as to receive gas pressure from the conduits I! of the cylindrical housing 16. I

The upper cap 38 of the valve unit 28 is pro-' vided with a hollow fishing neck 38 through which The unit 28 includes a housin 2 2,256,848 mittently supply gas pressure against the diaphragm 63 for'opening and closing the motor valve 49, and the purpose of the gate valve is to.

- regulate the amount of pressure exerted against extends a valve stem 39. The fishing neck 38 provides ameans of retrieving the unit 28 ii the line 1 should break or otherwise become inoperative. In the form of the invention shown in Figure 4 the stem 39 has pistons 48 and 4| thereon above and below the inlets 3 1. The inner diameter of the upper sleeve 32 is of greater diameter than the upper piston 48 so as to provide for the passage of gas when the stem 39 is in a raised ber 36. V

A standing valve 43 positioned in the tubing 4 below the housing I6 prevents the oil from being forced downward when the valve unit 28 is opened: To open and close the valve 28 there is a. jar rod unit 44 for operating the upper end or the valve stem' 39. Two forms or iar rods are illustrated in the drawings, and are substantially the same in construction, as will be seen. The jar rod illustrated in Figure 3 is comprised of a tubular body 45, and base rod 46 slidably positioned therein. The lower end of the rod 46 is in the form of a projection for engaging a constricted portion at the upper end of the tubular the 'said diaphragm. I

It is to be understood in operation, the intermitting or time cycle device has an automatic pressure release in the line carrying gas pressure to the top of the motor valve 49, whereby. after each cycle, upon closing, the time cycle device automatically releases the gas pressure efiective on the diaphragm of the motor, "so that said motor valve returns to closed position. Likewise in the operation of the apparatus employing the piston and cylinder 22, after each operation of the time cycle device, the gas pressure employed to operate the piston downwardly, is slowly allowed to escape thru the stufling box 21, so that the return of the line downwardly is slowly controlled. i

The time cycle device 55 and ,the motor valve 49 may be of conventional constructions and are therefore not described in detail.

A modification of the valve unit 28 is shown in" Figure 6 and includes the body 29, thefishing neck 38, the upper and lower caps 38 and 3|, the openings 42 and 42 therein, the sleeves 32 and 33,

rings 34 and. cups 35, as well as the cylindrical sure which might otherwise hinder the jarring action whenfsetting or retrieving the valve 23. The lower end of this form 0! jar rod unit is threaded to the upper end of the valve stem 38,

I8, the rod 46, which is connected at its upper end to the line 1 by a coupling 46, may be raised until the stem 39 is caused to open the said valve.

By slightly raising and lowering the line 1, the

well will be caused to flow,- provided there is sumcient gas pressure within the-casing 2. To operatethe piston 23,. a motor valve 43 is provided at the earth's surface, the discharge of which is connected to the cylinder cap 26 by a conduit 68. Another conduit 6| supplies gas pressure for this connection, but before passing- 1 and thus, after the valve 28 is set in the sleeve I member 36 having the vertical openings 36 around the central bore, and the inlets 31, all as previously described. The stem 68 difiers in that. its upper end is not threaded, and is acted upon in a manner to be described. In place of the pistons 48 and 4i, a conical valve element 6| is provided to move upwardly to engage a seat 62 in the member 36 above the inlets 31. Similarly, therefis a smaller conical valve element 63 positioned on the stem below the inlets 31. latter named element 63 likewise seats upwardly against a seat 64. Since the upper element 6| is the largenand by reason of the 'direction of the seating, pressure from the casing 2. nmmally causes the unit 28 to be closed and to extend the stem 66 beyond the neck 38. By this construction a valve is provided which will close against the weight of the valve operating elements. of the jar when velocity of flow becomes excessive, and

thus prevents the unit from being blown from the retaining sleeve I8. I

A modified form of the jar rod is illustrated in Figure hand is designed to impart the downlar body 6 6,v having 'opposingly positioned slots 66 intermediate the ends. (See Figure 5 as well as Figures 7 and 8.) The lower end of the body 66 has a threaded nipple 61 which is designed to enclose the upper end of theflshingneck 38.

Bolts 68 through .the nipple 61 secure the neck 38 in place. A rod 69, having threads at the upper end for connection to the coupling 48 and the wire line 1, extends into the body 86 and has integral projecting lugs 18 near the lower end i for slidably engaging the slots 86. The lugs 16 are so positioned as to allow the lower end of the rod 68 to force the stem 68 down when the viously referred to. A packer 12 'is positioned.

between th housing 1| and the casing 2. The tubing 4 is and extends "downwardly of flowing a well with a relatively low tubing without a housing provided the said tubinto the said housing and has at its lower end a valve seating means such as a ring 13, as shown in section in Figure 5. A seal 14 is positioned particularly shown in' Figures and 11.

, When the valve unit 28 is set in operative position, gas pressure is conducted from the easposition of the valve inlets 31. Other ports are provided in the tubing 4 below the seal 14 for allowing oil to enter the upper part of the said tubing when the oil is rising to its static level, The lower end of the housing 1| may be swaged or otherwise constricted. At the lower end of the housing 1| or in the lowertubing 11, there is positioned a standing valve 18 for maintaining the oil inthe said housing and the upper tubing 4.

Another form of wire line actuating mechanism is illustrated in Figures 13 and 14 and includes the cap 5 and the stufllng box 6 connected tothe top of the tubing 4, the pulley 2|, and a. pulley supporting bracket 18. A time cycle device 55, as previously referred to, is employed for the purpose of intermittently exerting gas pres- 1 sure against a'diaphragm 88 which forms a resilient partition in a bell housing 8|.. A con duit 82 is operatively connected between these parts as shown in Figure 13. A tubular member 83 is attached to the lower end of the bell housing 8| and has longitudinal slots 84 and 85 in opposing sides thereof. On each side of 'one of the slots 85 there is a laterally extending pair of spaced arms 86 which pivotally receive a lever 81 by means of a bolt 88. A rod 80 extends through the tubular body 83 and-is attached at one end to the diaphragm 80. The lever 81 is connected to the rod 80 by a pin or bolt 8| and guides 82 are positioned in the upper and lower ends of the body 88 to prevent lateral movement of the rod 80. The wire line 1, which extends from the stuffing-box 6 and over the pulley 2|, is connected to the outer end of the lever 81.

Holes 84 in the arms 86, and corresponding holes 85 in the lever 81, provide adjustment for the movement of the wire line 1 since the bolts 88 and 8| may be inserted at diiferent distances with respect to each other.

'In lowering or withdrawing thevalve unit 28 "in the tubing 4, theline 1 may be connected to a reel 86 or similar device at the earth's surface. Thus, the valve 28 may be set or dislodged by the jarring action-of the unit 44, and, when the,

between the, housing 1| and the tubing 4, as I,

'10 the tubing 4 in the proximity of the operative said tubing.

being lowered into a well tubing which has gas.

ing has seating means and gas passages to the valve inlets 31 In such an arrangement the oil will pass through the lower cap openings 42' and the vertical passages 38 in the member 36. When the unit is operated in either of the described housings IE or 1| these last, referred to openings and passages may be eliminated since the rising oil will pass around either of the described valve retaining means.

This application is a, continuation-in-part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 255,395.

What I claim is:

1. In a wire line operated valve unitcomprising a housing capable of being lowered into a well tubing and operatably located adjacent the lower end thereof which has gas passage means through the wall thereof, the combination of a well tubing, a housing, a stem within the said housing and extending through the upper end thereof, inlets in-the said housingfor receiving gas from the said passage means in the said tubing, passages extending from the said inlets through the said housing, valve elements on the said stein for opening and closing the said inlets, a tubular body attached to the upperend of the said housing and around the said stem, a rod slidably mounted within the said tubular body and adapted to operate the said stem, a wire line attached to said rod and extending to the surface of the well through 2. In a wire line operated valve capable of valve seats in the said housing above and below ated unit 28 may be caused to remain idle until the well has become so depleted as to render the said kick-oil! valves ineffective. Obviously, the

combined use of the operated unit 28 and the the said inlets, valve elements on the said stem for engaging the said seats, a tubular body attached to the upper end of the said housing and around the said stem. a rod capable of contacting and operating the saidstem and slidably mounted in the said tubular-body, and a vertically operated wire line extending through the said tubing and connected to the said rod.

3. A gas controlling valve mounted within a well tubing adjacent thelower end thereof, said valve comprising a tubular valve housing with a reduced head portion, a valve within said housing for controlling passage of pressure fluid therethrough, ports through the walls of said 'riorly the said valve communicating with the interior of the well tubing, a portion of said .valve extending into the reduced portion of said housing, a telescopic tool associated with said extending portion of said valve, a wire line attached to one end of said telescopic tool and extending to the wells surface through'said tubing,

for inserting or removing said valve housing into or from said well tubing, and means at the wells surface controlling the movement of said wire 4- 2,255,648 lower end thereof, comprising a tubular valve housing with an interiorly bored reduced head .1 portion, a vertically movable valve stem within 1 said housing for controlling entrance of pressure gas into said well tubing, communications exte- 5 1 riorly said fitting to the interior thereof, communication ports in said valve housing registering with said above communications and pres- I sure gas exit communications from said valve 1 housing to the interior of said well tubing, 9. por-.

'tion of said'valve extending into and through said reduced portion of the valve housing, a telefscopic tool associated with the extending portion of the valve within the said reduced head of the housing, a wire line attached to the upper end of said telescopic tool and extending upwardly through the said tubing to the wells "surfacejor raising or lowering said telescopic tool and extending portion of the said valve thereby controlling movement of said valve.

5. In a valve structure mounted in the lower end of a well tubing controlling entrance of i pressuregas-into said tubing, the combination of a well tubing and a fitting threadedly attached thereto at either end, said fitting comprising i a valve receiving chamber, passages for the uninterrupted flow of well fluid therearound, ports in said fitting, afiording communication from its interior to the exterior thereof, a valve housing removably mounted within said fitting, a gas of said gas controlling valve slidably operable through the head portion of said valve housing, a telescopic tool operatively attached to the said valve, 2. wire line attached to one end of said telescopic tool and extending interiorly the said tubing, to the wells surface, a stufling gland on the upper end of the said tubing afiording gas tight passage'of the said wire line, a cylinder and piston associated with said line, means to alternately raise or lower said line by movement of said piston thereby operating the gas controlling valve in the well tubing.

6. In a gas controlling valve for injecting pressure gas into the tubing ofan oil well'for ejecting the oil therefrom, a removable valve unit comprising a valve housing, a valve, controlling passage of pressure gas therethrough, a sliding sectional tool connectedwith said valve, a wire line connected to one end of said tool and ex- 0 tending to the wells surface interiorly of the said tubing, for controlling operation of the said valve attached to the lower end of the sectional tool, a port in said tubing near its lower extremity, a port in said valve housing for reglstration with said above port, ports in said valve communicating with said above ports affording communication with the tubing, means to secure said valve housing at a predetermined point in.

the interior of said tubing, means to dislodge said valve housing from association with the controlling valve within said last housing, a port interior of the well, tubing, means associated in said valve afiording communications with first named ports, outlets from said valve interiorly said valve housing, vertical fluid passages associated with the exterior of said valve affording uninterrupted well fluid passages around said 1 ,valve within said valve housing, communications from said valve housing at either end, communicating with the interior of said well tubing,',

with the said wire line at the wells surface-for actuating said line, tool and valve for controlling passage of gas into said well tubing at the lower end thereof, means independent of said last means for withdrawing said line, tool and-valve housing from the well tubing, fluid passages vertically surrounding said valve for the entrance of vwell fluid into said well tubing at full capacity of well.

THOMAS E. BRYAN. 

